Wheelchairs News and Research

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UofL receives Helmsley Charitable Trust grant to develop technology for paralyzed people

The University of Louisville has received $6.3 million from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support research in the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at UofL developing the next generation of technology to help paralyzed people regain movement in their limbs and enhance their quality of life.

25 May 2012

WSU introduces web-based decision support system to select wheeled mobility devices

A Wayne State University researcher has introduced computer technology that makes it easier for people who need wheelchairs to select one that best suits their needs.

25 May 2012

Lifelong Mobility Project gets under way in Mexico

A team of global partners has tasked itself with the daunting challenge of bringing mobility to disabled children of developing nations.

23 May 2012

Two specific gene variants speed progression of Parkinson's disease

UCLA researchers may have found a key to determining which Parkinson's disease patients will experience a more rapid decline in motor function, sparking hopes for the development of new therapies and helping identify those who could benefit most from early intervention.

16 May 2012

DYNC1H1 genetic mutation contributes to SMA-LED

Scientists have confirmed that mutations of a gene are responsible for some cases of a rare, inherited disease that causes progressive muscle degeneration and weakness: spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance, also known as SMA-LED.

11 May 2012

New measurement tool for clinical trials to help children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

An international study led by the University of Sydney and published in the Annals of Neurology has the potential to improve the design of clinical trials for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a disorder which affects the peripheral nervous system.

8 May 2012

Rare form of dementia eats away at personality and language

Michael French suffered from a rare form of dementia. It made him do unwise things like throwing away tax documents, getting a ticket for trying to pass an ambulance and buying stock in companies that were obviously in trouble. He seemed withdrawn and no longer spoke to his wife over dinner. He also lost his job at the consulting firm. This happened in 2006. His wife found he had changed suddenly from the smart, good-natured, hardworking man and was considering divorce when his ailment came into the picture.

8 May 2012

Patients with spinal cord injury report higher rates of wheelchair breakdowns

Wheelchair-dependent patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are reporting higher rates of wheelchair breakdowns requiring repairs, according to a study in American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AJPM&R), the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, AJPM&R is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

3 May 2012

One organ donor can save up to eight lives

Judy Weimer, 53, was diagnosed with COPD, emphysema and bronchitis on New Year's Eve in 2005 and received a double-lung transplant in 2009 at Loyola University Health System. "I named my new lungs Lucy and Ethel to welcome them," said the humorous and outgoing Chicagoan. "Lucy acts up once in a while but they are both working fine."

26 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Myths about women voters; Stopping fake drugs; Medicaid innovation not easy; The war over women

Women vote based on "women's issues," such as abortion rights and contraception. A recent poll of voters in swing states showed that women's top priorities are health care, gas prices, unemployment and the deficit -- in that order -- with "government policies toward contraception" coming in last

24 Apr 2012

Obama administration will expand use of competitive bidding in Medicare

A year-long experiment found that the competitive bidding approach saved money without harming beneficiaries. It also made inroads against waste and fraud.

20 Apr 2012

Even a little physical activity a day keeps Alzheimer’s away

It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease worldwide is expected to double to 80 million. A new study shows a ray of hope. It found that daily physical activity might provide a person's best chances of staving off the degenerative brain disorder - even if they're over 80 years old.Additionally exercise does not have to be strenuous. Activities such as cooking and cleaning also led to a protective benefit.

19 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 18, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include reports about how a one-year experiment on Medicare competitive bidding showed positive results in terms of saving money as well as reducing waste and fraud.

19 Apr 2012

Regular physical activity may decrease risk of AD even in very old adults

Daily physical activity may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline, even in people over the age of 80, according to a new study by neurological researchers from Rush University Medical Center that will be published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology on April 18.

19 Apr 2012

Tai Chi designed for wheelchair users

An innovative 13-postures Tai Chi designed for wheelchair users is described in the current issue of Technology and Innovation- Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors.

18 Apr 2012

Study provides new information on why A-T disease attacks the brain

Rutgers scientists think they have found a way to prevent and possibly reverse the most debilitating symptoms of a rare, progressive childhood degenerative disease that leaves children with slurred speech, unable to walk, and in a wheelchair before they reach adolescence.

2 Apr 2012

Flexible system for enabling comfortable access for people with reduced mobility

TECNALIA Research & Innovation has participated in the Flexidesc project by specifying a furnishing concept in which design, space management and user interaction are combined to devise a home that is accessible and adapted to anyone with reduced mobility.

31 Mar 2012

Paper describes results of BMT in models of Rett Syndrome

A paper published online today in Nature describes the results of using bone marrow transplant (BMT) to replace faulty immune system cells in models of Rett Syndrome. The procedure arrested many severe symptoms of the childhood disorder, including abnormal breathing and movement, and significantly extended the lifespan of Rett mouse models.

19 Mar 2012

The soon-to-be-released GOP budget plan: What will become of traditional Medicare?

How this question is answered could have big implications for the GOP's presidential and congressional candidates. Meanwhile, Politico Pro reports the plan being prepared by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R- Wis., is likely to include a reserve fund to deal with Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.

11 Mar 2012

HASCO Medical acquires Ride-Away Handicap Equipment

HASCO Medical, Inc., www.HascoMed.com a managed healthcare provider that serves patients in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, is pleased to announce that the Company has completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp., a closely-held New Hampshire corporation (Ride-Away).

5 Mar 2012